Manager Martin O’Neill don talk say e want Celtic historic European Cup lift for Lisbon to inspire him players as dem dey find first Europa League win of di season away to Benfica.
O’Neill and him squad dey Portuguese capital, where their 1967 victory over Inter Milan happen, as dem become first British club to win di competition.
‘First of all, looking forward to di game, na big match for us and e lovely to dey involved,’ O’Neill tok. ‘Secondly, di history of di football club and di connection to Lisbon, e terrific, something di football club suppose really proud of. I think na separate entity in many aspects. By next year, e go be 60 years, historical occasion, absolutely fantastic. Plenty of di boys don see di stadium from trip there last season and dem aware of di history. E really lovely, I must admit. Na something to look forward to and just di whole history of am, e suppose get galvanizing effect on us.’
Key players Cameron Carter-Vickers and Camilo Duran no train on Wednesday morning, with di former ruled out and di latter potentially available after him partner born pikin on Wednesday.
‘Cameron get small strain, so e missing, but Camilo dey hope to dey out here later on,’ O’Neill add.
Benfica start their Europa League campaign with victory over AC Milan for San Siro, while Celtic slump to home loss to Ferencvaros.
Some observers feel say Rangers lack of European football go throw dem advantage for di battle for Scottish title with last season runners-up Heart of Midlothian now engage in Conference League football as well.
O’Neill insist say Celtic dey take Europa League seriously and dem target place for knock-outs in early spring.
‘The Premiership very, very important obviously, but while we dey here, our ambition na to try and qualify,’ e tok. ‘The players dey look forward to di game and to contesting European football. Last season, sometime for March, we get four games in about 10 days or something, really hectic, and e really take its toll. But I think we dey equipped for am. We ready to go. I thought we play some really fantastic football on Sunday [2-0 win at Motherwell], but dis na different team, different stadium, different everything. Dem get plenty good players and dem gain great deal of confidence by winning for Milan, that no easy. Dem get good players, but so do we and we want cause dem few problems.’
Benfica head coach Marco Silva and midfielder Georgiy Sudakov don urge focus ahead of hosting Celtic in di UEFA Europa League.
Despite Benfica blistering domestic form, Silva warn him side say di Scottish champions remain dangerous European proposition.
Benfica and Celtic go meet for Estadio da Luz on Thursday night for matchday two clash for di league phase of di Europa League.
Di two teams get contrasting starts, with di hosts securing all three points on matchday one, while di visitors suffer disappointing defeat in their opening game.
Benfica appoint Marco Silva as their manager following di departure of Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid in di summer, and di new manager don enjoy superb start to life for Estadio da Luz.
Di former Fulham boss actually start him tenure with worrying 2-1 defeat to St Gallen for di first leg of their Europa League second qualifying round tie.
However, commanding 5-0 second-leg triumph ensure their progression, and that win spark di beginning of stunning run of results, including booking their place for di league phase of di Europa League with wins over Hearts and AGF for di qualifying rounds.
Those victories be part of impressive 12-game unbeaten run, which also include Benfica opening their Europa League campaign with superb 2-0 away triumph against AC Milan.
Benfica 12-game unbeaten run come to eventual end against Porto for di final game before di international break, losing 3-1, but dem quickly bounce back with 2-0 win against Vitoria on Sunday.
Benfica, who consequently sit second for Liga Portugal and seventh for Europa League, don dey at their best for Estadio da Luz dis term, winning six and drawing one of seven home fixtures.
Silva go dey eager to maintain that unbeaten home record and build on their win against AC Milan when dem take on Celtic on matchday two on Thursday.
Celtic, in comparison, get mixed start to di 2026-27 season, featuring several extremely disappointing results wey leave pressure building on Martin O’Neill position for di helm.
After winning their opening four games of di season, Celtic suffer catastrophic elimination from Champions League qualifiers against LASK Linz, squandering 4-0 lead as dem lose 5-1 for di second leg.
Although four Scottish Premiership triumphs follow, Celtic eventually suffer their first domestic defeat of di campaign on September 13, losing 3-0 to rivals Rangers for di League Cup.
That loss mark di start of miserable three-game losing streak, featuring 3-1 home defeat to Ferencvaros for Europa League and 1-0 home defeat to Rangers for Scottish Premiership.
O’Neill manage to buy himself time with 2-0 win against Motherwell on Sunday, which ensure Celtic remain at top of di standings.
